Dynamic topology discovery and management with protocol detection

Abstract

An apparatus and method for efficiently supporting multiple peripheral communication protocols in a computing system. A computing system includes multiple servers with one or more of the servers using multiple connectors for connecting to multiple peripheral devices such as data storage devices. At least one of the connectors is able to support multiple communication protocols, rather than a single communication protocol. A processor of the server determines a peripheral device has been attached to a connector that supports multiple communication protocols, and the processor determines whether one of the multiple communication protocols supported by the particular connector matches the attached peripheral device's communication protocol. If so, the processor configures the connector with the matching communication protocol. Otherwise, the processor generates an indication that specifies that there is no match.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of connectors including a first connector configured to support a plurality of communication protocols; and 
 a processor comprising circuitry; and 
 wherein in response to a first peripheral device being attached to the first connector of the plurality of connectors, the processor is configured to:
 configure the first connector with a first communication protocol of the plurality of communication protocols, to based on the first peripheral device supporting the first communication protocol; and 
 generate an error indication, based on the plurality of communication protocols not including a communication protocol supported by the first peripheral device. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to store the error indication in a log file that can be accessed by a system administrator. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the first peripheral device is a data storage device. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein, in response to a second peripheral device has been attached to a second connector of the plurality of connectors, the circuitry of the processor is configured to:
 generate a third indication that the second peripheral device supports a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol; and 
 configure the second connector with the second communication protocol of a plurality of communication protocols supported by the second connector, in response to the second connector supports the second communication protocol. 
 
     
     
       5. The apparatus as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured to select and use for configuration of the second connector, a third communication protocol of a second plurality of communication protocols, in response to:
 the second peripheral device being removed from the second connector; and 
 a third peripheral device that supports the third communication protocol has been attached to the second connector. 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein in response to performing a bootup operation, the processor is further configured to generate a report indicating one or more communication protocols supported by each of the plurality of connectors. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to preconfigure a third connector of the plurality of connectors to support a third plurality of communication protocols, in response to:
 performing the bootup operation; and 
 determining the third connector has no peripheral device attached. 
 
     
     
       8. A method, comprising:
 transferring data via a plurality of connectors including a first connector configured to support a plurality of communication protocols; 
 in response to a first peripheral device being attached to the first connector of the plurality of connectors:
 configuring, by circuitry of a processor, a first connector with a first communication protocol of the plurality of communication protocols, based on the first peripheral device supporting the first communication protocol; and 
 generating, by the processor, an error indication, in response to based on the plurality of communication protocols not including a communication protocol supported by the first peripheral device. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The method as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising storing, by the processor, the error indication in a log file that can be accessed by a system administrator. 
     
     
       10. The method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the first peripheral device is a data storage device. 
     
     
       11. The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein, in response to a second peripheral device has been attached to a second connector of the plurality of connectors, the method further comprises:
 generating, by the processor, a third indication that the second peripheral device supports a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol; and 
 configuring the second connector with the second communication protocol of a plurality of communication protocols supported by the second connector, in response to the second connector supports the second communication protocol. 
 
     
     
       12. The method as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising selecting and using, by the processor, for configuration of the second connector, a third communication protocol of a second plurality of communication protocols, in response to:
 the second peripheral device being removed from the second connector; and 
 a third peripheral device that supports the third communication protocol has been attached to the second connector. 
 
     
     
       13. The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein in response to performing a bootup operation, the method further comprises generating, by the processor, a report indicating one or more communication protocols supported by each of the plurality of connectors. 
     
     
       14. The method as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising preconfiguring, by the processor, a third connector of the plurality of connectors to support a third plurality of communication protocols, in response to:
 performing the bootup operation; and 
 determining the third connector has no peripheral device attached. 
 
     
     
       15. A computing system comprising:
 a server array comprising a plurality of servers, wherein a given server of the plurality of servers comprises:
 a plurality of connectors including a first connector configured to support a plurality of communication protocols; and 
 a processor comprising circuitry; and 
 wherein in response to a first peripheral device being attached to a first connector of the plurality of connectors, the processor is configured to:
 configure the first connector with a first communication protocol of the plurality of communication protocols, based on the first peripheral device supporting the first communication protocol; and 
 generate an error indication, based on the plurality of communication protocols not including a communication protocol supported by the first peripheral device. 
 
 
 
     
     
       16. The computing system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to store the error indication in a log file that can be accessed by a system administrator. 
     
     
       17. The computing system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the first peripheral device is a data storage device. 
     
     
       18. The computing system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein, in response to a second peripheral device has been attached to a second connector of the plurality of connectors, the circuitry of the processor is configured to:
 generate a third indication that the second peripheral device supports a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol; and 
 configure the second connector with the second communication protocol of a plurality of communication protocols supported by the second connector, in response to the second connector supports the second communication protocol. 
 
     
     
       19. The computing system as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the processor is further configured to select and use for configuration of the second connector, a third communication protocol of second plurality of communication protocols, in response to
 the second peripheral device has been removed from the second connector; and 
 a third peripheral device that supports the third communication protocol has been attached to the second connector. 
 
     
     
       20. The computing system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein in response to performing a bootup operation, the processor is further configured to generate a report indicating one or more communication protocols supported by each of the plurality of connectors.